Definitely something to ponder about, but you may be asking for too much. Basically, you're taking a lot of responsibility out of the hands of the parent and putting them into the hands of the government.

Now, I think the real problem is this - if the government is paying for school, meals, after school programs, healthcare, and college, then the government can regulate all those things. The more they pay, the more they regulate. And government regulation of all those things is a terrible thing. See, when the government regulates things, they like to eliminate any choice you may have. Also, the cost of everything goes up, and the effectiveness goes down.

What about people who want to homeschool? Government control of after school activity would lead to there being one or two ASAs, instead of the multitude we have now. After all, schools tend to cut the music and art programs first when they cut things, why wouldn't they cut after school programming until there's none? Free none, but none.

I think it's the kind of idea that would be great in theory, but not in practice. Having free stuff is great. Having the government in control sucks. So we pay for stuff so we can have better/nicer/more stuff than the government would give. You could suggest we make the government just pay for whatever we want, but that bird probably won't fly.

Definitely something to ponder about, but you may be asking for too much. Basically, you're taking a lot of responsibility out of the hands of the parent and putting them into the hands of the government.

Well, I'm not necesarily taking away the responsibility from the parents but actually giving them a bit more freedom to stay afloat and move forward in life. By not having to worry about buying school supplies (since we here in Florida have to buy what the schools want, nothing more nothing less), uniforms (if they have uniforms), meals (I don't ever recall paying for my breakfast and lunch in school, now my son does, about $20 a week) and mode of transportation, parents will not have to rush to stores looking for items on sales, waiting for tax free days and the long lines at Walmart for schools supplies and uniforms. Children need healthy meals to keep their brains working properly in order to absorb all the knowledge, it's a shame that a child could go without lunch or breakfast just because he/she has no money in his/her account and already owes $5 to the lunch lady while the parents have to wait till payday to give the child money for his/her account.

This is not about making the Gov't do everything for us, but to give all children of this nation the same opportunities to make something of themselves with the hopes of securing a better future for this nation. Imagine how many of those children who could not finish school or afford college could have been great scientist, engineers, World Leaders, inventors; we could have had cures to many deseases, discovered the rtuth behind global warming, be using alternative fuels and even know more about outer space. But we will never really know because those children were never given a chance.

Now don't think I would expect every child in the country to be the next Albert Einstein, Bill Gates or George Washington; but at least we can feel good knowing we gave them the chance to reach the stars if they really wanted to.

Now, I think the real problem is this - if the government is paying for school, meals, after school programs, healthcare, and college, then the government can regulate all those things. The more they pay, the more they regulate. And government regulation of all those things is a terrible thing. See, when the government regulates things, they like to eliminate any choice you may have. Also, the cost of everything goes up, and the effectiveness goes down.

Yes, I know. Trust me when I say I would rather not have the Gov't involved. But my goal is not some kind of welfare system but a system that will have no limits, no walls, no obsticles to stop a child from getting the education they deserve. Once born as an American they automatically qualify, no need to apply. My main point here is that while the Gov't gets to set the rules, I always believed we, the people, are the Gov't and the rules would be set based on our choices not choices by some idiot in the oval office and a bunch of idiots in the 2 Houses. I just believe its time we took our Gov't back and with it our lives.

What about people who want to homeschool?

Well I never said making it mandatory, but if people chose to stay out of the system it is up to them to pay their way. Maybe some kind of tax break for not using schools materials and property.

Government control of after school activity would lead to there being one or two ASAs, instead of the multitude we have now. After all, schools tend to cut the music and art programs first when they cut things, why wouldn't they cut after school programming until there's none? Free none, but none.

What I meant was using the current ones we have but all having the same set of guidelines. Example, the Boys and Girls club my son currently goes to is not exactly one I would recomend all parents to try. I have very few choices in ASA where my son can be without affecting my job or that of his mother. I can not afford a better place so I'm really out of options. But this could be better if they had better rules, better control. Again, we take back our Gov't and make sure that our children are getting the right education, including art and music.

I think it's the kind of idea that would be great in theory, but not in practice.

That's why I asked if it seemed I was asking too much, hehe.

Having free stuff is great.

Now you see, I don't necessarily see it as free. To me this is kinda like paying for a car before you are actually old enough to drive it. This will be paid for by our own taxes, and allowing our children to have all the opportunities to become better citizens of this nation is payback enough for me. Even if some of them fail regardless.

Having the government in control sucks. So we pay for stuff so we can have better/nicer/more stuff than the government would give. You could suggest we make the government just pay for whatever we want, but that bird probably won't fly.

I would look at it the same way someone here looked at how we need the Gov't for such things as roads. As individuals we are not capable of making and maintain roads and bridges by ourselves, but together we can. Same for our childrens future.

I know this sounds like a lot and I'm sure there are better ways to do this. I am willing to listen to any ideas and suggestions. My goal is to make a good idea better, not have it "my way or the highway".

The other problem, thanks for getting back to this so fast by the way, is that who are the kids that don't succeed going to blame their failure on? Their parents, for not providing? Can't, it was provided. No after school programs or extracurricular activities? Can't, they were available. No, they'll only have themselves to blame, and that is unnacceptable. So it will never get voted in!

kids need to be educated not indoctrinated.


all this free stuff is nice. who is going to pay for it.

Some schools, even public schools, have fees to be paid to get a schedule, and they hold the kids out of class until the fees are paid.

This is great stuff LW. Just the kind of questioning I was looking for. I know public schools are free. What I meant when I said free was their entire education till at least 12th grade. I probably would agree with school vouchers for private schools, but I just want it to be paid period, no questions asked. Except if the school abuses with charging to much, then there’s a problem.

I know there are programs for schools supplies, my company just recently participated in a program that gave some children from many schools bookbags full of school supplies. My point is schools should supply all the necessities, eliminating the need to have to go to stores trying to find supplies amongst the messes made by other people, having to do the long lines and just simply not having to worry about it at all. I know it’s a lot to ask but considering how not so expensive it is to buy it, why not have the schools supply it. I constantly hear here in Florida how the Lottery gives billions and how there are millions of dollars being poured into the Florida education system. Having been in Florida for 12 years, I don’t see where the hell that money is going to.



Again, I know that. My point is there are some places, such as where I live where buses don’t pick up children for my sons school because we live within a certain distance. The problem is when we take him to school it takes us 45 minute to an hour just to drop him off. We could use a private school bus but that cost a lot. I think all children, and parents, deserve to have a bus pick them up, except maybe if you live 500 ft from your school, but then.



My son was on a school lunch program, he still had to pay even if it was about ¼ of what he pays now. But because I got a $1 raise we no longer qualify. But what I don’t get is why we pay at all, as a child I never paid for breakfast or lunch, not once. Breakfast and lunch are essential to children’s development, why the hell are we charging them for it?

I understand that part about those who don’t have kids should not have to pay for it, but in this case we are talking about the future of this country, our children. They are already paying for everything that has to do with public education, why not do a little more. This is not about giving free stuff to lazy people. It’s about giving those who may not be able to succeed in life and might end up as those lazy people a chance to avoid that. I would think that could somewhat lower the number of uneducated people that could end up living poor and draining our Gov’t of money thru assistance programs. May as well shift the money from one program to another, except this time we may get better results. But that’s just a theory.



Well, I had to pay $150 a week for my son in the YMCA. That’s why I went to the boys and girls club which was $120 a month. My problem with the Boys and Girls club is just that it’s not what you see on TV. Since when are pool tables and arcade games something to educate children? What ever happened to the sports and games they show on TV?

I know some churches do that but at the moment I am not in the religious system due to the fact that my faith is kinda lost and I am in search for something to believe in. Maybe once I find what I am looking for that church may be able to help me out. But I need something solid, something for every day, it’s bad enough I now have to take my lunch at 2:00 in the afternoon just so I can go all the way to my sons school to pick him up and drop him off at the B&G club leaving only 15 minutes to grab a bit and wasting gas in the process. Not to mention that because of this I have to keep the car and my wife has to catch rides with unreliable people to work. She has already missed a few days of work and has had to leave early as well. This is not looking good for our budget.

I just think when it comes to children, they should not have to pay the price for such a screwed up system like the one we have. Parents don’t have that much time now a days cause both have to work. School hours keep being moved back more and more and kids spend less time in school. I use to get out at 4:00, my son gets out at 2:00. That makes no sense.



I guess that sorta makes sense but I just believe that all children, rich or not, deserve some kind of net just in case.



OK so maybe the College part was too much. That’s why I asked what you think. I am not fully educated in all matters of education so I will come off a bit uneducated in some instances.

I agree we do plenty for kids. I just think we can do more since what were are currently doing does not seem to be working at a much better rate. I just don’t think children should get their education based on their income. Is that really a bad thing to believe in? This is not about the adults and giving them something for free when they can afford it. It’s about giving our children a chance to be something, even if they have money. It’s kinda interesting to see how most people I hear from who have gone to Yale or Harvard usually turn out to be from rich families. I just figure it would be nice to give others a chance by actually giving it to them.

So what are you complaining about again?